Teardrop (Pear) Body Shape: Styling Tips & Fashion Advice

A - TEARDROP (PEAR) BODY SHAPE

It’s a triangular shape where your waist and hips are wider than your bust (min. 5%) and your waist is narrow compared to your hips.

You have narrow and/or sloped shoulders; fuller legs and hips. To dress your best, try to play up the top half of your body and minimize the bottom.

Below you can find some basic recommendations that you can follow to balance your silhouette and enhance your look.

Necklines: Wide and short necklines like off the shoulder, sabrina, bateau, square and cowl necks will balance your bottom out. 

Sleeves: Short, wide, loose sleeves such as flutter, puff, juliet, lantern or cowl sleeves, if long then add volume to the shoulder area.

Shirts: Loose and finish at the hip line; bright colours, bold patterns; details make your shoulders look broader, like shoulder pad, ruffles, horizontal stripes; bust pockets; long knits that hit mid-thigh. Embellishments like ruffles, cowl collars, and lace trims on the neck area draw the eye upwards. Avoid skin fitting or strap tops.

Jackets: Less fitted outwear on the waist; jackets with high neckline with narrow collar; dark colour mid-thigh length or light colour cropped style (denim, bomber) jackets; no front opening; details like pockets and collar around the bust area.

Coats: Long A-Line, princes or empire cut coats with dark colours. Avoid the hemline ends at the hip; details like pockets, pattern or pleating on your hip area. Avoid straight-cut and boxy coats.

Skirts: Straight or slightly gathered knee-length skirts; A-Line, bias, godet, gored styles; no details like pockets, pleats, or patterns. Avoid poofy or mini skirts. 

Dresses: Wide bottom shape dresses like A-Line, X-Line, empire, princess seams or wrap style dresses with hemline hits below the knee; soft draping fabrics; dropped and embellished necklines with details close to neck and face; dark or muted colours on the bottom; dramatic sleeves. Avoid strapless or halter-style dresses, with horizontal stripes.  

Pants & Jeans: Dark or muted colours with no print or patterns; plain, flat front, straight leg, classic, relaxed fit pants; mid or high waist. Boot-cut or slightly flared, dark colour jeans with no pocket details, mid or high rise. If you like skinny, then wear them with loose tops. Avoid cropped or combat pants; baggy jeans; loose bottoms; or dropped waistline.

Fabrics: To balance the wider hip area, use light-weighted flowy fabrics, and avoid bottoms and dresses with thick fabrics. For tops, you can use heavier, textured, and thick fabrics to ad dimension to your bust and shoulder area.

Accessories: Pointed and square toe shoes that elongate the legs and make them look slimmer. Heels and long boots are also good since they help the legs look longer. Chunky heels, platforms and wedges are good choices if they don't have ankle straps.

To help your shoulders look broader and balance your silhouette, choose the bags that fall between your waist and hips. Short stripes, oversize or structured bags, clutches with bold colours and lots of details. Avoid bags that sit on your hip area.

Scarves can help to draw attention to your upper body. Use chunky, long scarves only around your neck area with bold colours and patterns.

Jewelry also helps to draw attention to your neck area, therefore use bold, chunky necklaces that sit above the bust, big earrings, and hair accessories.

Dressing Guides for Your Body Type